Obituaries for the week of Sept. 15-19

September 19, 2003 12:00 am

David Eardley

David William Eardley, 99, a longtime Baker City resident, died Sept. 12, 2003.

Those wishing to pay their respects and to visit with the family may come to Gray's West & Co. Funeral Home, 1500 Dewey Ave., from 6:30 until 8 o'clock tonight. There will be a private family memorial service Tuesday. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery.

David was born on Aug. 8, 1904, at Baker City, where he lived almost his entire life. He attended school at Baker City, graduating as valedictorian from Baker High School. He also attended the University of Utah at Salt Lake City where he graduated with honors with a degree in music.

David was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served a mission in Great Britain for the church. He served as a ward organist most of his life, and was a member of the Stake High Council for 16 years.

He was well-known for his great musical talent in organ and piano accompanying. He played for countless vocal and instrumental soloists, many choirs and groups, and a dance band. He was also in great demand for playing weddings and funerals.

He served many years as the owner-operator of the Eardley Lumber Co. in south Baker City. In his later years, he worked as a radio announcer for KBKR in Baker. David was well-loved by his family.

Survivors include his daughter, Linda, and her husband, John Chatelain of Salt Lake City; a son, Don, and his wife, Myrna, of Farr West, Utah, and a son Kim and his wife, Valerie "Chip," of Baker City. They lovingly cared for him in their home the last six years of his life. He also is survived by seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, with two more expected this year.

David was preceded in death by his parents, James and Mary; and two brothers, Myron and Walter.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice through Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.

Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Sister Kay Marie Duncan of Pathway Hospice will officiate.

Annie was born near Salmon, Idaho, on Dec. 4, 1910, to John and Lizzie Bohannon. She moved with her family to Baker County in the late 1920s.

Annie loved the mountains surrounding Baker City. She spent much of her time hunting, fishing and gold panning in the mountains. During her later years, her daughter, Charlotte, would take her for drives through the mountains so she could still enjoy them.

Annie loved music and dancing. This is an activity that she was able to enjoy up to the last year of her life. Annie also enjoyed watching her favorite baseball team, the Atlanta Braves.

Playing pinochle with her family and friends was something she could do for hours. One of her grandchildren's favorite memories is of her exclamation "for crying in a bucket," when she would lose a hand of pinochle to them.

In her early teens, Annie taught herself how to crochet. The vision of her sitting in her recliner crocheting is one of the most vivid memories that her family and friends share.

She would make large tablecloths, jackets, doilies and many other items. She was also able to sell many of these items in local stores. Annie shared her talent by teaching crochet to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Lizzie Denny Bohannon; her brothers, Oscar, Floyd and Earl Bohannon; her sisters, Olive and Ivy; her son, Everett Bryant; and her granddaughter, Michelle Shankle.

Survivors include her daughters, Dorothy MacDaniel of Richland, Wash., and Charlotte Thomason of Baker City; and many nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice through Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.

Frank Sibley

Frank Clarence Sibley, 90, a former resident of Bates, Austin and Richland, died Sept. 12, 2003, at a Redmond residential care center.

At his request, there will be no memorial service. His cremated remains will be scattered over a special place he chose.

Mr. Sibley was born on April 22, 1913, at Price, Utah. As a youngster, he remembered living at Cove, The Dalles, Portland, Donald, San Francisco, Spokane, Wash., and around Las Vegas, Nev. He rode the rails and worked on the Hoover Dam. He said he was a hobo, but never a bum. He loved the sound of a trail whistle.

He met Mable Tracy in 1936 while she was visiting her mother at Bates. They were married on Sept. 8, 1936.

They lived at Bates, Knuteville and Austin for many years before moving to Richland. "Papa," as the grandkids called him, was an avid rockhound. He and Mable spent many winters at Quartzsite, Ariz., gathering and trading rocks and jewelry. He designed and made silver jewelry and in his later years he focused on fire opals.

Papa loved the outdoors: fishing, hunting, cutting wood and exploring new territories. He also played harmonica and was a great whistler.

Survivors include his two daughters, Donna Stimson of Beaverton and Shirley Ludlow of Fossil; six grandchildren, Donna McIntosh of Condon, Michael McIntosh of Salem, David Krigbaum of Beaverton, Max McIntosh of Kent, Wash., James Krigbaum of the Seattle area and Monty McIntosh of La Grande; and 14 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by Mable, his wife of 57 years; all eight of his brothers and sisters; and his parents.

Leo Frericks

Leo James Frericks, 81, a former Baker City resident, died Sept. 13, 2003, at Chico, Calif.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at Our Divine Savior Catholic Church in Chico. The rosary will be said at 7 o'clock tonight at the church. Burial will be after the Mass at Chico Cemetery.

Mr. Frericks was born July 6, 1922, at Garrison, Neb., to John and Anna Frericks. He grew up on a cattle ranch.

He lived in Baker City during the 1930s.

He moved to Burbank, Calif., in 1940 to work at Lockheed Aircraft Corp. building fighter planes. There he met his future wife, Rita. They were married on July 10, 1943, at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church in Burbank, Calif.

He served in the U.S. Navy Air Force during World War II. After his discharge in 1946, he obtained a position at Clark Buick Motor Co. at Compton, Calif. He later built and operated his own Automotive Service Center at Fullerton, Calif.,

In 1969 he moved his family to Chico, Calif., to give his four children the opportunity to obtain a college education. He was very active in real estate for many years and served as president of the Oroville Board of Realtors in 1975.

He was a member of the Knights of Columbus for 40 years and served as grand knight in the Third Degree and as faithful navigator in the Fourth Degree, as district deputy, and he later served as chapter president of the Northern California Chapter Knights of Columbus.

He also was a life member of the Chico Elks Lodge and was active in parish projects for Our Divine Savior Catholic Parish.

His wife, Rita, died in 2001.

Survivors include three daughters, Jane A. Frericks, Joanie Frericks and Kathleen Terrell; a son, Steve Frericks; one brother; three sisters; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to Our Divine Savior Catholic Church or Knights of Columbus in care of Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home, 680 Camellia Way, Chico, CA 95926. View the obituary or send condolences online at nbcfh.com.

Esther Walker

Esther M. Walker, 65, of Baker City, died Sept. 17, 2003 at her home.

Her memorial service will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. There will be a reception for family and friends after the service at the home of Esther's daughter, Carri Noble.

Esther was born Feb. 16, 1938, at Yreka, Calif., to Josephine Inskipp and Walter Aubrey. She grew up at Happy Camp, Calif., and was a 1957 graduate of Happy Camp High School. That same year she met and married Al Walker.

The couple moved to Lincoln City in March of 1968, then to Molalla in 1969, settling in Baker City in 1970. Esther worked at the Truck Corral for 13 years, at Jimmy Chan's for eight years, and at the Inland Cafe for six years for her good friends, Don and Sharon Orr.

She loved working with the public and enjoyed all the people she served.

Esther was a registered member of the Karuk Indian Tribe in the Northern California Klamath Region. She was very proud and involved with her Indian heritage.

Esther loved spending time with her family, especially attending her grandchildren's sporting events.

She was an avid bowler and a member of the Women's International Bowling Conference for many years, bowling in several different leagues and traveling all over the Northwest to bowling tournaments.

She loved softball and managed her husband's co-ed tournament softball team for 17 years, which also involved traveling to many tournaments.

Esther also enjoyed crocheting and gardening.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters, Janet Cannon and Carol Erskine.

She is survived by her husband, Al, of Baker City; daughters Carri Noble and her husband, Todd, Sheryl Payton and her husband, Vince, and Teresa Walker and her friend, Bram Novak, all of Baker City; sister, Arlene Hansell of Happy Camp, Calif.; grandchildren, Tia, Bo, Jason, and Justin Gibbs, and Kristie Payton, all of Pendleton, A.J. Noble, Josephine Payton, and Walter, Frank and Ande Ramsey of Baker City; and great-grandchildren, Gavin Willingham, Denise, Madison and Avery Gibbs, and Aubrie Bacher, all of Pendleton.

Memorial contributions may be made to The American Heart Association or The Billy Payton Trust Fund through Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.